Imagine if Ad Rutschman had not coached Linfield football all the years he did

Ad Rutschman was a superb athlete at Hillsboro High School/Hilhi (1950 grad) and Linfield (1954 grad).

He was head football coach only at his alma maters, Hilhi, 1958-1967, and Linfield, 1968-1991. 

(He was also baseball coach at both. But, this is about football.)

During his 24 seasons as Linfield head football coach, his teams won three NAIA national and 15 Northwest Conference championships. His Wildcats played in total of 20 post-season games in 12 different seasons.

His success at Linfield was noticed. According to Rutschman, during the years he was coaching Wildcat football he was offered head football coaching jobs at:

• Oregon Institute of Technology – Three offers.
• Western Oregon University – One offer.
• Portland State University – One offer.

And, there was interest in hiring him as an assistant football coach, too. 

Rich Brooks, University of Oregon head football coach, offered him the offensive coordinator position with the Ducks.

“Cal and Michigan called and talked to me when they were each looking for an assistant coach. And, the Air Force Academy (also looking for an assistant coach) flew me to Colorado and I went to its campus near Colorado Springs to visit and talk,” he said. 

Rutschman said there were various reasons why did not take the job offers. For the opportunities outside of Oregon, he “had no desire to move my family out of the Northwest.”

The toughest decision he made about whether to remain at Linfield as head football coach or leave came after his first season (1968) as Linfield head football coach. “I had an unbelievable offer to return to Hillsboro High School,” he said.

Imagine Linfield without Ad Rutschman as its head football coach during those 24 seasons. Fortunately, for Linfield and its fans, the players he coached and those whose lives he impacted, it never happened.

Photo from Linfield Archives